Westernization in China and Japan

In the middle of the 19th century, there were some similarities between the responses of the western sides of China and Japan, but they do not agree at a later date, which ultimately influences and influences the modernization of both countries It was. Initially, both Asian countries rejected the idea that the West brought them, so they experienced a period of self - isolation. However, demands of Western imperialists immediately forced them to reconsider them in different ways.

China and Japan are good examples, both countries are strongly opposed to the influence of the West, but in the end the two countries show different reactions to change. Before the West touched, China and Japan considered them to be excellent civilizations. Both countries believe that contact with Westerners will erode their perfect society. In addition, they do not believe that modernization is necessary as they feel they are perfect. People in both countries are satisfied with traditional, older style lifestyle, there is no reason to change

Why did Japan succeed in modernizing in the 19th century, but did not China? Since 1850, China and Japan were threatened by Western countries. In response, Japan successfully carried out the construction and modernization plan of the country; however, in China, it proved that the attempt of modernization did not succeed and the power of the central state was deadly I was weakened. The failure to build a modern state led to the so - called lost century of China, and Japan 's success was the first non - Western country that achieved industrialization. In the paper by One Bridge University and Tuan - Hwee Sng (National University of Singapore), we are exploring this problem using historical evidence and formal modeling.

From 1750 to 1914, many non-Western European countries such as China, Japan, Russia, Middle East, etc. felt the pressure of modernization and industrialization in the West. Japan has made considerable success in the modernization and industrialization of the Meiji Restoration, but China does not fully understand the necessity of modernization and industrialization, which is behind Japan, especially the economy . A similarity between China and Japan's response to Western imperialism is that both countries are obliged to sign an unequal treaty that allows trade with Western countries. One difference in response to Western imperialism between China and Japan is that we recognize that Japan needs the corresponding Westernization, modernization, and cooperation with the West through the Meiji Restoration. However, Japan responded by promoting industrialization and completing the industrial revolution.